Shorey sinks Rangers with another trademark strike

COCA COLA CHAMPIONSHIP

MATCH REPORT

The first half was a tight affair with neither team given too much away. Reading did have the best openings of the first 45 minutes with Dean Morgan coming the closest. A long ball up field was not dealt with by the QPR backline and Morgan's shot from the edge of the box was a foot away from Chris Day's right hand post.

The Royals did have a couple of penalty of decisions turned down. Firstly after Dave Kitson broke through before looking to take the ball round Day and then going down. After a second viewing it did look as if Kitson had looked for the penalty and was subsequently booked for diving. The most contentious decision was when from a corner Ibrahima Sonko's header looked to have hit Marc Bircham on the arm. The referee though waved play on.

Paul Furlong had Rangers best chance. A Kevin Gallen cross from the left hand side found the head of Furlong but his header was straight at Hahnemann.

Half Time: Reading 0:0 QPR

The second half was a much livelier affair with Ian Holloway's halftime speech clearly having the desired effect on his Rangers team who started buoyantly. Adam Miller and Cureton both having efforts early on.

Reading did though slowly come back into the game but were hampered when Dave Kitson was forced off with another injury this time, knee ligament damage and news coming from physio Jon Fearn say the early signs don't look good for Reading's top goalscorer.  Lloyd Owusu came on to replace Kitson.

And it was Owusu who won the free kick on the corner of Rangers box which led to the only goal of the game. Santos was adjudged to have fouled Owusu in the air and Nicky Storey's free kick evaded everybody and striking the post before hitting the net. From Shorey's reaction it suggests the former Leyton Orient youngster was not aiming to shot.

QPR's task of getting back in the game was made doubly hard when Reading fans favourite, Jamie Cureton was dismissed after hitting out at Steve Sidwell. Cureton's reaction was spurred on after Sidwell had called for the ball to be left, Cureton who presumed it was a fellow Rangers player dummied the ball before turning round to see Sidwell had tricked him. Cureton was furious with Reading's captain and hit out a number of times before he was given his marching orders.

Steve Coppell made a change late on with Nicky Forster making his long awaiting return to the first team to take Dean Morgan's place. Forster nearly assisted in Reading scoring another. After a good run down the wing his cross found the head of Owusu but he was unable to direct his header towards goal.

Reading hung on to seal all three points and win there ninth home game of the season and remain unbeaten at the Madejski. The Sky cameras will be back again next Sunday on Boxing Day as Reading take on Watford at home in an 11AM kick off.

Have a very Merry Christmas and see you at the Madejski Stadium next Saturday!

To see a round-up of all the weekends Championship results please Click Here

Full Time: Reading 1:0 QPR

Man Of The Match: Nicky Shorey

Reading's left back just keeps doing the business. Another player who Premiership clubs must be eyeing up in the January transfer window.

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NEXT LEAGUE MATCH

26th December 2004, Madejski Stadium. 11:00 AM Kick Off (Live on Sky)

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